• East Texas Baptist University will hold “Shadow Days” for high school seniors and college transfer students Feb 12-13. The event gives visiting students an opportunity to experience campus life. The visit allows prospective students to spend the night in the dorm, socialize with current students and visit with professors at breakfast and while attending class. Preregistration is necessary, and a $15 nonrefundable fee must be paid, but if a student submits an application for admission during the event, the $25 application fee will be waived. For more information or to register, call (800) 804-3828.
• An informational meeting for families interested in international adoption will be held Feb. 13 at the Buckner Children’s Home campus in Dallas from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will learn more about the adoption process, fees and children available for adoption. Interested families must complete a free pre-application and questionnaire, available online at www.beafamily.org prior to attending the workshop. To register for the free workshop, call (866) 236-7823.
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Dallas Baptist University recently opened the doors to a new building named in honor of Christian author and Baptist leader Henry Blackaby. Henry Blackaby Hall is a 20,000-square-foot facility housing the university bookstore, music department classrooms and practice rooms, music faculty instructional studios and DBU’s online education department. Blackaby cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony, escorted by his wife, Marilynn, and DBU President Gary Cook (left on steps) and DBU Executive Vice President Blair Blackburn (right on steps). Blackaby has served churches in California and Canada as music director, education director and pastor. He also was president of Canadian Southern Baptist Theological College. DBU honored Blackaby in 2002 with an honorary doctor of divinity degree.
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• Howard Payne University will hold “Yellow Jacket Monday” Feb. 16. The preview event is designed to provide high school seniors the opportunity to experience campus life. Student participants may attend a class, tour campus, eat lunch in the university’s dining area, visit with faculty about academic interests, attend a student panel, learn about the honors program and meet with an admissions counselor. Preregistration for the event may be made by calling (800) 880-4478.
• Christian Women’s Job Corps of Tyler is accepting donations for women’s business suits. With 110 students enrolled for the spring call, CWJC attempts to provide a new business suit for each student to feel confident in job interviews. For more information, call (903) 592-4693.
• Steve Oldham has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He had been serving in an interim capacity in the post since last July. He has been an associate professor of religion and philosophy at UMHB since 2000 and has been director of the honors program.
• The Baylor Alumni Association has named four graduates as its 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Paul Foster is president and CEO of Western Refining in El Paso. In 2008, he was No. 1,062 on Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s wealthiest people. He contributed $3 million to the university’s Paul L. Foster Success Center in 2007. John Lee Hancock is a director and screenwriter. A fellow at the Sundance Institute Screenwriting Lab, he has received the ESPY and Family Film Award, the People’s Choice Award and the Christopher Award. Jerry Marcontell is a retired Houston obstetrician-gynecologist who served 31 years in private practice. The co-captain of the Baylor football team that won the Sugar Bowl in 1957, he was a consensus All-Southwest Conference player and Scholastic All-American. Alma Rohm is a retired Southern Baptist missionary who now lives in Waco. A 1947 Baylor graduate, she served 54 years in Nigeria. Twice the Nigerian government gave her the title of chief, and in 2002, she received an honorary doctorate of divinity from the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary.
• Jesus Romero will lead Baptist University of the Americas’ bachelor’s degree in Spanish program. Romero has been on the faculty of Howard Payne University, where he was professor of modern languages. He was pastor of Igesia Nuevo Amancer in Brownwood six years. He is a commissioner of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission.
• Dallas Baptist University continued its 21 consecutive years of student enrollment growth with 5,143 students enrolled in the spring semester, reflecting an additional 55 students over the previous year.
• Former San Marcos Academy administrator Jimmie Scott has been elected chairman of the board of trustees. He retired as executive vice president in 1996, having completed 32 years of service to the school. New trustees elected to the board are Clay Sullivan, John Childs, Durell Hethcock and Bill Young.
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Anniversaries
• John Self, 30th, as pastor of Trinity Church in Cameron, Feb. 1.
• Gary Samford, fifth, as pastor of First Church in Lyons, Feb. 1.
• Tim Clayton, 10th, as pastor of First Church in Giddings, Feb. 14.
Deaths
• Mack Smoke, 83, Dec. 27 in Marshall. He was licensed to preach at Grange Hall Church in Marshall in 1946 and was ordained in 1953. He was pastor of churches in Texas, Louisiana and Arizona. He also was Baptist Student Union director for San Jacinto Association, and later served that association as director of missions. While serving in that capacity, the association established Lake Tomahawk Encampment. He served in several leadership positions within the Southern Baptist Convention Directors of Missions Conference including president. After retirement, he was interim director of Soda Lake Association in 1993. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carolyn; sons, Michael, Andrew, Daniel and Timothy; sister, Nellie Jackson; brothers, Jack and Billy; and three grandchildren.
• Bill Burton, 83, Jan. 3 in Austin. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary, he served Baptist churches in West Texas and the Panhandle seven years as associate pastor in charge of music, education and youth. His ministry included evangelistic crusades in Japan and Hong Kong. During the next 20 years, he was pastor of churches in Gruver, O’Donnell, Friona and Lubbock. After retiring from vocational ministry, he joined Hyde Park Church in Austin, where he taught a men’s Bible study class more than 15 years. He also was a consultant with Security Church Finance more than 30 years, helping churches secure financing to build, renovate or relocate. He was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Mildred, one brother and three sisters. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Donnie; daughters, Pat Moody and Debi Carter; son, Bill Jr.; step-daughter, Jeannie Snow; step-son, John Shindler; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
• Alton Patton, 90, Jan. 31 in Winnsboro. A graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Seminary, he was pastor in many communities including Bright Star, Addman, Liberty, Shady Grove, Hainesville, Golden, Reilly Springs, Southwest Tell, Linden, Winnsboro, Lampasas and Uvalde. He also was an associational missionary in Oklahoma, Harmony-Pittsburg Association and Smith Association. He was a trustee of the Mexican Baptist Bible Institute in San Antonio, served two terms on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and one term as a trustee of the Texas Baptist Children’s Home. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Johnetta, in 1995. He is survived by his daughters, Joanna Meinecke and Jane Rummel; son, Sammy; brothers, Aaron and Howard; sisters, Harvine Plaxco, Vera Dale Connally and Doris Seago; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Events
• The Steel Magnolias will hold a benefit concert Feb. 15 at First Church in San Marcos to feed the hungry of Central Texas. The Hays County Food Bank will have a truck at the church to receive food and funds from those attending the concert. Admission to the concert is either a nonperishable food item or a monetary donation to the food bank. For more information, call (512) 757-4901.
• The women’s ministry of First Church in Center will hold its annual Joy Seekers Conference Feb. 27-28. Debra Hochgraber is the conference speaker, and Grateful Heart will lead the worship time. If registered by Feb. 11, the conference cost is $20. Registration at the door is $25. Saturday lunch is provided. Scholarships are available by calling the church office at (936) 598-5605. Childcare is $10 for the weekend or $8 for Saturday only.
Ordained
• Tony Roberts to the ministry at Beulah Church in Millsap, Jan. 11.
Revival
• Central Church, Marshall; Feb. 15-18; evangelist, Bill Foote; music, Winky Foote; pastor, Matt Wood.
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